Malik Hooker S Ohio State

Go, Hooker, go!

Originally posted by hello28:

Originally posted by hondakillerzx:

Malik, Fournette are my top 2 choices.

Same here! Hooker or Fournette!

Me three, with me plan C being a trade down for Charles Harris or Corey Davis/Mike Will.

For the draft Malik Hooker crowd, I have a few questions:

1. Do you prefer to play Jimmy Ward at corner?

2. Is Reid or Tartt the SS going forward?

3. We can play 8 in the box, but we still have very poor run defenders up front, even if fully healthy. So what is the move for the second and third round?

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
For the draft Malik Hooker crowd, I have a few questions:

1. Do you prefer to play Jimmy Ward at corner?

2. Is Reid or Tartt the SS going forward?

3. We can play 8 in the box, but we still have very poor run defenders up front, even if fully healthy. So what is the move for the second and third round?

I really wish we tried out Jimmy at safety much earlier. If he turned out to be good then we could scratch hooker off the board. But a lack of a true single high safety makes this decision tough.

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
For the draft Malik Hooker crowd, I have a few questions:

1. Do you prefer to play Jimmy Ward at corner?

2. Is Reid or Tartt the SS going forward?

3. We can play 8 in the box, but we still have very poor run defenders up front, even if fully healthy. So what is the move for the second and third round?

1. Its not that I prefer Jimmie Ward at Corner, its that I think Malik Hooker can be a game changer in a single high scheme. I think Jimmie would be a solid FS in a single high, Im not sure he would be elite.

2. Robert Saleh already said he sees Reid as the SS, Tartt seems like a better fit in the box then as a single high safety. I think neither of them has the range or coverage skills to be relied on to be a single high safety on a frequent basis.

3. I think the switch in systems and pace will be a big help. We continually fell apart in the second half last year dude to the amount of time the defense was on the field. Growth from Buckner, a healthy linebacking core, less defensive snaps played, and 8 in the box should improve the run D significantly. In the second and third I would want them to grab a receiver and an edge rusher.

Originally posted by philosoraptor:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

For the draft Malik Hooker crowd, I have a few questions:

1. Do you prefer to play Jimmy Ward at corner?

2. Is Reid or Tartt the SS going forward?

3. We can play 8 in the box, but we still have very poor run defenders up front, even if fully healthy. So what is the move for the second and third round?

1. Its not that I prefer Jimmie Ward at Corner, its that I think Malik Hooker can be a game changer in a single high scheme. I think Jimmie would be a solid FS in a single high, Im not sure he would be elite.

2. Robert Saleh already said he sees Reid as the SS, Tartt seems like a better fit in the box then as a single high safety. I think neither of them has the range or coverage skills to be relied on to be a single high safety on a frequent basis.

3. I think the switch in systems and pace will be a big help. We continually fell apart in the second half last year dude to the amount of time the defense was on the field. Growth from Buckner, a healthy linebacking core, less defensive snaps played, and 8 in the box should improve the run D significantly. In the second and third I would want them to grab a receiver and an edge rusher.

I'll puff to all this

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
For the draft Malik Hooker crowd, I have a few questions:

1. Do you prefer to play Jimmy Ward at corner?

2. Is Reid or Tartt the SS going forward?

3. We can play 8 in the box, but we still have very poor run defenders up front, even if fully healthy. So what is the move for the second and third round?

i like jimmy at corner, hes undersized but his technique is great. I think itll be Tartt or another SS draft pick instead of reid, i dont think theyll resign him. take a linebacker in round 2 to help bowman patrol the field/stop the run unless watson or mahomes fall to them in round 2. then flip flop round 2 and 3 QB or LB.

Speed rusher at 34. Lb 3rd. 3T and 1T can all be had late. I like Smart and Tu'Ikolovatu.

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

For the draft Malik Hooker crowd, I have a few questions:

1. Do you prefer to play Jimmy Ward at corner?

2. Is Reid or Tartt the SS going forward?

3. We can play 8 in the box, but we still have very poor run defenders up front, even if fully healthy. So what is the move for the second and third round?

I think these have all been answered really well in the posts above, but here's my 2 cents:

1. I want Ward to be put in the best position to succeed. He found a home at CB last year. Starting CBs aren't easy to find. If we drafted Hooker, I'd keep Ward at CB (and have him be the backup FS), maybe even slide him to slot on sub packages, maybe even have him be the second safety on other sub packages. His versatility is a weapon. He should be on the field.

My humble opinion: Wards best football would be played from Box Safety/Slot Corner. He'd be a small box safety, for sure, and I'm not necessarily advocating he be moved there, but I bet he'd light it up. Just watch any film from him you can find from college, and you'll see a Box Safety monster making play after play. On several packages you could easily see Ward and Hooker at Safety, you can even flop them (like Seattle does at times with Kam going Single High and Earl moving to the box).

2. Cage match, battle it out. Reid probably has the edge in this race, because of his flexibility to flop to Single High, if needed, and his athleticism and range, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tartt beat him out. Sometimes the guy who wants to play more wins the camp battle over the more talented guy. Both guys certainly are talented enough to play Box Safety.

3. Run D has to be addressed. You're right, 8 in the box is huge. Really huge. Teams are going to do their best to throw us out of 8 in the box. Hookers range will punish them for it.

In base, here's the lineup (imho):
Brooks SAM (260) - (Buckner (300)-Rookie Fat NT (330)-Mitchell(310)-New Rookie Edge (~260).

In sub:
Lynch/Brooks/Eli-Buckner-Armstead-NewRookieEdge

So the plan in the draft? Get an Edge at 34. A stud will be there. There's so many darn Edges it's insane. Who do I like? Lawson (260).

And Later in the draft, get a Fat NT run plugging Beast. Who do I like (today?): Tanzel Smart (330). But there's a ton in this draft, and some may even go undrafted. Also, we need to start our stockpiling of 6'2 310 DTs. We're a 4-3 team, need depth at 1T, 3T, 5T. I'd go for a guy like DJ Jones in the 6th.

"I think the one thing to know — and I've learned from playing and from this process — is people have issues," Lynch said. "Just like a lot of people in life have issues. And so if you're looking for a bunch of choir boys, that ain't happening. It would be hard to fill a team. But we believe in football character. Do they love football? Are they dependable? Are they accountable?"

http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-John-Lynch-looking-to-build-culture-not-11095836.php

Better known for his abilities on the basketball court at New Castle High School, Hooker tried out for the football team as a junior and major college programs like Ohio State started to take notice. He redshirted in 2014 and struggled to adapt to the demands of major college football, almost quitting and transferring to a smaller college closer to home to play basketball - Urban Meyer credits Hooker's mother (Angela Dennis) for not allowing him to quit.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2139273/malik-hooker

Originally posted by adrianlesnar:

Speed rusher at 34. Lb 3rd. 3T and 1T can all be had late. I like Smart and Tu'Ikolovatu.

IMO 1T is more important then SAM, if you were referring to that being the LB you're referring too cause we're just fine at WILL and Mike for this year. You can make an argument we're fine at SAM this year too...Brooks can still hold down the run and in a contract year, I think as a rotating pass rusher he'll be solid there as well. Harold is gonna challenge challenge him in base as the SAM too, maybe Blair trying to show case himself and steal the job. Don't let the weight fool you, the dude can move.

Only issue that does suck about a 1T run stuffer is they're two down players...but hey that still got Brandon Williams hella paid. I think the positions target should be in the following: RDE/Elephant, CB/FS depending on where Jimmy ends up being placed(draft will solve this), 1T,QB,SAM,RB,WR,TE and so on if you wanna nitpick.

Originally posted by SmokeCrabtrees:

IMO 1T is more important then SAM, if you were referring to that being the LB you're referring too cause we're just fine at WILL and Mike for this year. You can make an argument we're fine at SAM this year too...Brooks can still hold down the run and in a contract year, I think as a rotating pass rusher he'll be solid there as well. Harold is gonna challenge challenge him in base as the SAM too, maybe Blair trying to show case himself and steal the job. Don't let the weight fool you, the dude can move.

Only issue that does suck about a 1T run stuffer is they're two down players...but hey that still got Brandon Williams hella paid. I think the positions target should be in the following: RDE/Elephant, CB/FS depending on where Jimmy ends up being placed(draft will solve this), 1T,QB,SAM,RB,WR,TE and so on if you wanna nitpick.

I agree in the value of 1T, and our need coming into this season being greater than our need for any LB position. But I think you can find a great run stuffing 2 down player in rounds 4-7 and have Buckner and AA inside on passing downs. Also, I don't have any faith in our LB corps in the future...questions at Mike with bowman injury, questions at will with smith and armstrong, questions at Sam with Brooks age.